BALTIMORE, MD (September 16, 2005) – The federal government honors Maryland state employees for their efforts in two joint federal–state settlements that will help to protect regional waters from contamination by untreated sewage, the Maryland Department of the Environment (MDE) announced today. Six MDE employees received awards during a U.S. Department of Justice’s Environment and Natural Resources Division Awards Ceremony held in Washington, D.C. today [Friday, September 16].
“The Department of the Environment is proud of our employees who worked so hard on these settlements. We thank them for their effort and commitment to achieving success,” said Secretary Kendl P. Philbrick. “Their work resulted in a billion-dollar settlement enforcing the Clean Water Act that will help to protect our environment and keep millions of Maryland and D.C. residents safe from harmful pollutants.”
On July 26, MDE, the Department of Justice, and the Environmental Protection Agency announced two major Clean Water Act settlements with Baltimore County and the Washington Suburban Sanitary Commission (WSSC) that are anticipated to lead to more than $1 billion in sewer system improvements. The settlements were designed to prevent chronic sewage overflows to regional waterways, including the Chesapeake Bay and the Anacostia, Patapsco, Patuxent, and Potomac rivers. This billion-dollar effort reinforces the importance of investing in sewer infrastructure and advancing regional partnerships to protect citizens and restore waters of regional and national significance.
The U.S. Department of Justice honored the following individuals today:
Jack Bowen, Administrator, Water Management Administration Compliance Program
Carol Coates, Enforcement Manager, Water Management Administration Compliance Program
Dave Lyons, Enforcement Division Chief, Water Management Administration Compliance Program
Rosewin Sweeney, Principal Counsel, Office of the Attorney General
Jennifer Wazenski, Assistant Attorney General, Office of the Attorney General
Nancy Young, Assistant Attorney General, Office of the Attorney General
For more information on the settlements, visit MDE’s website at: mde.maryland.gov/PressReleases/748.html
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